Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini: No midrange slouch (hands-on)

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If Samsung's Galaxy S4 is more phone than you think you need, the electronics giant has just offered up the smaller, more midrange -- and surely cheaper -- Galaxy S4 Mini.

Like a decaffeinated beverage, Samsung is hoping to give its lighter smartphone much of the same S4 taste with just a little less oomph. Although the Mini has stepped-down specs compared with its flagship family, like a lower-resolution screen and an 8-megapixel camera instead of a 13-megapixel shooter, it's no slouch when it comes to the Galaxy S4's core features, like a built-in TV remote control.

As with the Galaxy S3 Mini that came before, this version is aimed more toward the mass market than the high-end sector. Here in the middle, the Mini plays the role of the lower price option compared with the marquee Galaxy S4, without sacrificing too many of the superphone's more-defining features.

 hands-on time with the smaller smartphone in London at the June 20 launch event, and at Samsung's simultaneous shindig in New York. Here's how it stacks up against the original Galaxy S4.

Design and build

Samsung's modest Mini is a wee bit shorter, thicker, and wider than the svelte Galaxy S4 but clearly cut from the same cloth. Like the round-shouldered original, the Mini retains its curved perimeter, metallic rim, and rectangular Home button, and also comes in black and white versions.

Specifically, the global S4 Mini stands 124.6 millimeters tall (4.9 inches) by 61.3 millimeters wide (2.4 inches) by 8.9 millimeters thick (0.35 inch) and weighs a lighter 107 grams (3.7 ounces, compared with the S4's 4.6-ounce weight). A 3G-only, dual-SIM version will weigh a hair more at 108 grams.

In our hands we can definitely say that the Mini feels much more compact than the S4. Indeed it's something we couldn't really appreciate until physically in the presence of the tiny device. Compared with the Galaxy Note 2, the Galaxy S4 Mini looks almost as small as a BlackBerry Q10. In fact it's dwarfed by the larger handset to the point of being comical.

The S4 Mini has an 8-megapixel main camera.

The phone's screen quality is perhaps the first place you'll really notice the hardware differences between the Galaxy S4 and its little cousin. Don't expect the S4 Mini's 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display to look as sharp at 960x540 pixels as does the Galaxy S4's 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution on its 5-inch screen. For all you pixel-hounds, that's a 441 pixel density on the Galaxy S4 compared with 256ppi for the S4 Mini. Indeed the Mini's screen had noticeably less impact than the Galaxy S4's when we viewed it in person.

Both Galaxy screens support the same color gamut and OLED display technology, though the Mini won't have the Galaxy S4's ultrasensitive, glove-friendly capabilities.

From the looks of it, the S4 Mini shares most of the S4 family's other physical attributes, including the location and shape of the camera, flash, sensors, buttons, and ports. It seems that the Mini sports the same subtle patterning as the S4's finish.

OS and features

Importantly, the Galaxy S4 Mini runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean underneath its TouchWiz layer. Custom interfaces like TouchWiz are notorious for stalling Android update efforts, so starting at such a current OS build is crucial for keeping a phone like the S4 Mini from falling behind the times.

Samsung hasn't told us exactly which extras will take root in the Mini, but it's safe to assume that it's an almost identical software build as the Galaxy S4's. Transporting its signature Galaxy-only abilities across devices is absolutely Samsung's style.With TouchWiz comes a mountain of software embellishments, like more one-touch system settings in the notifications pull-down and options like Air View, which produces an onscreen cursor when you wag your finger close to the screen.

If software enhancements are your thing, the presence of these bonus features is one reason to pick the Mini over any other midtier device: you won't have the most powerful hardware, but you'll still hold onto features like Group Play, and Samsung's built-in apps. (For more on all these, check out this full Samsung Galaxy S4 review.)

We're most gratified to see the S4's IR blaster make its way onto the Mini. This little hardware bauble turns your phone into a TV remote control when paired with the WatchOn app. Top phones like the HTC One and LG Optimus G Pro share this soon-to-be living room staple, but the Galaxy S4 Mini will be the first of its class to also bail you out when your TV remote falls behind the couch.

As for connections and communications, Bluetooth 4.0 keeps the Mini current. NFC, which makes content-sharing possible with a tap, will make it onto LTE-enabled versions of the Mini. We're not sure why Samsung isn't including NFC in non-LTE Mini handsets, but it likely has something to do with cost control for different markets worldwide.

Cameras and video

Although the Galaxy S4 Mini may not deliver quite the rich detail of the S4's 13-megapixel camera, Samsung is still gifting the "decaf" device with an 8-megapixel shooter, which is no resolution to sneeze at, especially the way Samsung typically outfits its camera modules. Expect high-fidelity images and smooth 1080p HD video.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini's ports and fixtures show up in the same place as on the original S4.

The 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera should also pull its weight for casual self-portraits and video chats.

Shutterbugs will get a nice, large helping of Samsung's photo software, including Panorama and HDR modes (that's high-dynamic range), Night mode, burst shot, and several others that help pick the best of the bunch.

While the new Sound & Shot mode makes an appearance (that records an audio clip to narrate the still, but plays back only on S4 phones,) the new dual-shot mode -- which uses both front and rear camera captures in a single picture -- does not.

Performance

While it's tough to guess how well the Galaxy S4 Mini will perform all around the world, the specs do tell a promising story. First up, there are up to six bands for global LTE support, plus HSPA+ 42 speeds, and 3G and 2G fail-safes.

LTE-ready builds of the Mini won't come to every market, but if you've got LTE phones where you live, that's the version you should expect to see when and if the handset lands in a store near you. Otherwise, you'll get a 3G version of the phone, and, in some markets, even a dual-SIM device. The double-barrel configuration has its benefits, but don't hold your breath for a dual-SIM Mini to hit every country (sorry, U.S.).

Now what about raw computing power? Unlike the superpowered quad-core or octa-core Galaxy S4, the S4 Mini will pack a 1.7GHz dual-core processor under its hood. That's completely respectable, depending on the chipset's make and model, and I'll guess that most people won't miss the Galaxy S4's high-octane gaming speeds.

Smaller than the original Galaxy S4, the Mini crops the screen from 5 inches down to 4.3.

The phone's smaller screen size is one explanation for the Mini's 1,900mAh battery, which should still keep the phone charged during the peak hours of the day. Unsurprisingly, there's a smaller bank of storage on this lighter device -- 8GB, with closer to 5GB for the phone owner's content. However, a microSD slot holds up to 64GB extra.

In terms of RAM, the Galaxy S4 Mini splits the difference between the S4's 2GB quotient and midrange device's 1GB capacity with 1.5GB RAM.

Which to buy: Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S4 Mini?

Without pricing or availability details from Samsung and its global partners, it's hard to make a value judgment about which is the better deal. (We'll update this Galaxy S4 Mini First Take with that information as soon as Samsung loosens its lips.)

From the looks of it, the Galaxy S4 Mini has the ingredients to deliver a very solid smartphone experience at a more affordable price, though the screen quality and battery life could flag compared with the real S4 deal. More-serious mobile gamers and camera snobs should stick with the fully loaded Galaxy S4.

That advice also goes for anyone who consumes a large amount of reading and viewing material from the phone screen. The S4's, while fairly reflective, will still trump the Mini's lower-res display.

Still, if you like the sound of a surely less expensive device that keeps most of its key features, and you don't mind some toned-down specs, hold off for the moment until more information about the Mini pours in.

This handy chart lines up the S4 and S4 Mini specs to help you decide whether to wait.

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Car Tech's guide to using your Android phone in the car

Your phone is a hub for your music and entertainment, GPS navigation, and communications with your friends, family, and social circles. You've got your apps for streaming music and podcasts from the Web, apps for picking a place to eat or finding the lowest fuel prices around, and your hands-free calls of course. Or, because phones are such personal devices, your handset can bring only a few of these things to your driving experience.

You're in charge of why you'd want to use your Android phone in the car. The tricky part is figuring out how to do it and how to do it safely. Read on.

Bluetooth

For the last few years and for most of the Android OS's lifetime, Bluetooth's Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) has easily been your best bet for connecting an Android phone to most newer model vehicles. This is especially true if you're already making the Bluetooth wireless connection for the Hands-free Profile (HFP) to make voice calls -- using A2DP kills two birds with one stone. Often, A2DP-connected stereos can display artist and title data for the currently playing song and almost always includes shortcuts (either onscreen or accessible by steering wheel buttons) for play, pause, and skip.

Bluetooth-to-stereo audio streaming does have one minor drawback. When you make the wireless connection, your phone and the receiver must negotiate the audio quality at which the music will be streamed. While there is startlingly little information published about how this process works and what specific bitrates and compression algorithms are used, suffice it to say that the audio quality is always less-than-audiophile levels. What's more is that some phones sound better than others, even within the same brand, and there's no guarantee that a phone that sounds good with a Honda stereo will sound just as good with a BMW, for example. With all but the top-tier premium audio systems, most listeners probably won't notice, but it bears mentioning.

The details of the Bluetooth pairing vary between the different versions of Android, but the broad strokes remain consistent.

Pairing your smartphone with your car stereo for audio streaming should happen automatically when you pair for hands-free calling if your stereo and phone both support it. Pop into your phone's Wireless settings and locate the Bluetooth menu. Make sure that your phone's Bluetooth is set to On and, following the instructions that came with your car, place the car stereo into its paring mode.

Tap the "Search for devices" button in your phone's Bluetooth menu and look for your car's ID to appear. It should say something like "Elantra," "NISSAN," or "MYCAR." Tap the ID and, if prompted, enter the PIN that may be given to you by your car stereo. Sometimes, you'll be asked to confirm the connection and sometimes the pairing will just happen automatically. You should only have to pair your phone to your car once, with subsequent reconnections happening automatically.

At this point, you'll usually be asked to sync your phone's address book. This is usually a good idea, so be sure to check the box that gives the stereo permanent phonebook access if you don't want to be prompted for a sync every day.

If after this, you aren't able to stream audio wirelessly, pop back into the Bluetooth menu on your phone, locate your car's ID, and access its options (either by long pressing the name or tapping the options slider in newer versions of Android). Make sure that both the Media and Phone audio profiles are checked. If you don't see Media audio as an option, chances are that your car stereo doesn't support it. Double check your car's manual.

If you don't see the Media audio option, odds are that your stereo doesn't support it.

Auxiliary input

For drivers of older cars or vehicles with more basic car stereos, the humble analog auxiliary audio input (3.5mm TRS) is the next best bet. You'll connect to this simple audio connection with an audio patch cable that plugs into your phone's headphone jack.

The auxiliary input's simplicity makes it the most easy to set up and, possibly, the most future-proof of phone-to-car connection methods. However, this connection is a dumb input, lacking bidirectional communication, so there's no way to control your phone with the car's stereo. If you want to, for example, change songs, then you'll need to interact with your Android phone, which can be less than ideal in a driving situation.

USB is no longer an option

The ability to simply plug your phone into a car stereo via USB is one area where iOS devices still have an advantage over Android (as well as BlackBerry and Windows Phone) devices, even after the great Lightning connector scare of 2012.

I haven't been able to consistently USB connect an Android phone to a car stereo since the first Motorola Droid.

Years ago, when I took my first look at methods for connecting your Android phone to a car stereo, USB mass storage connectivity was a shaky alternative method for audio playback. I no longer recommend this connection technique for many reasons. I never really had much consistent success getting aftermarket or OEM car stereos to recognize my USB connected phone and, now that many of the most popular Android phones no longer support expandable SD card memory or the mounting of the phone as a generic USB drive, Android USB connectivity has gone from an inconsistent hack to just plain unreliable and unsupported.

If your particular car and phone combination still supports USB connectivity, consider yourself lucky.

Combining methods with adapters

With the aid of inexpensive adapters or certain visor-mounted speaker phones, you can very easily add a Bluetooth or auxiliary connection to many basic car stereos. Products, like theKanex AirBlue and Scosche MotorMouth II plug directly into your car's auxiliary input, and convert your Bluetooth audio and/or calls into analog data your car stereo can digest.

For old cars with a working cassette player, there's the classic tape adapter option, but these devices can sometimes damage the moving parts in your car's cassette deck if poorly made or gruffly inserted.

Other devices, such the Jabra Freeway, serve double duty, providing fantastic audio for your hands-free calls via Bluetooth and an internal speaker, while also bouncing the wireless audio beamed from your phone to your car's radio for playback through the speakers via FM modulation. There are also FM transmitters that connect to your phone's headphone jack, wirelessly beaming audio to any radio in the area tuned to the right frequency. Of course, FM transmission is notorious for its poor audio quality--you'll get better sound from devices that connect digitally or directly--and should be avoided as anything but a last resort, but if you're looking for a cheap way to simply listen to podcasts in an old car without replacing the stereo, this is an option.

Stock infotainment options

Most people can't just run out and buy a new car because their current set of wheels is incompatible with their smartphone. However, if you are already in the market for a new ride, knowing which automakers and vehicles are available with infotainment systems that are Android friendly may sway your ultimate choice.

Through a Bluetooth connection to your phone, Ford Sync AppLink-equipped vehicles are able to give drivers control of a wide range of Android apps using little more than the sound of their voice. At time of publication, there are seven apps that AppLink supports, including Stitcher, NPR, Slacker, iHeartRadio, and Pandora for audio, and Scout and Sync Destinations for navigation. Simply say, "Sync, NPR News" and you'll be listening to "This American Life" before you know it.

Toyota Entune (pictured) and Ford Sync AppLink are the best OEM systems for in-dash app integration.

Hop into a fully loaded Toyota vehicle these days and you're likely to be greeted by the automaker's new Entune interface (or Enform, if you're in a Lexus). This system ties into an Entune app that is installed on your Android phone, giving the driver touch-screen access to apps such as iHeartRadio and Pandora for audio streaming, MovieTickets.com for browsing and purchasing movie tickets, OpenTable for making dining reservations, and Bing for online destination search.

Pandora Link is found in both of the above systems as well as the newest Mazda Navigation system, General Motors' MyLink/Intellilink, Scion's top-tier receiver, certain Hyundai BlueLinksystems, and the 2013 Nissan Altima. Beware, although BMW, Mini, and Mercedes-Benz also offer Pandora integration, they are only compatible with the iPhone version of the app.

All of these Android and app connectivity systems will make use of Bluetooth, because -- as I mentioned earlier -- that's pretty much the only reliable, bidirectional connection that you can currently make with your Android phone. Even the automakers that I haven't mentioned at this point are going to offer some sort of Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling and/or A2DP, as well as an auxiliary input as standard or optional features, so look for these basic connections at the very least.

Aftermarket stereos

Yanking out your stock stereo and replacing it with an aftermarket unit may not sound too appealing, but this is often the best way to add smartphone connectivity to an older vehicle while simultaneously boosting the audio quality. In addition to your basic Bluetooth and aux-in setups, the aftermarket is often where you'll see emerging technologies appear first. Pioneer's AppRadio2, while still a bit "beta", is one of the first receivers to support MHL and HDMI app mirroring to give users touch-screen access to the apps running directly on their phone, and you can bet that it won't be the last.

(Honda has debuted support for HDMI video, which many Androids can output, but only for rear-seat video, and then only on the Odyssey minivan.)

Other things that you'll need

Streaming audio from the Internet, reading your GPS position, and maintaining a Bluetooth connection can be hard on your phone's battery. If you don't want to arrive at your destination with a flat battery at the end of a long trip, then you'll want to invest in a 12-volt USB charger. However, not all chargers are created equally. The standard USB port outputs about 500 to 600mA of current, but many of the large-screened, multi-cored mega-phones that have become the norm will scoff at anything less than 800 to 1,000mA (or 1A). Take a close look at the wall charger that came with your phone for the manufacturer's recommended charging rate and try to match or exceed that number with your car charger.

Beware of 2.1A "iPad" chargers as some of these use Apple-specific variable amperage that renders them incompatible with certain Android phones and tablets. I'm thinking specifically of the Google/Asus Nexus 7. On the other hand, many Android devices work just fine with these adapters -- albeit often at a lower-than-advertised charging rate. As is often the case with cars and Androids, your mileage may vary.

If you're using your Android's screen for navigation, you'll need to mount the device somewhere that's easily visible.

You'll also need somewhere to stow your phone while you drive. If you're using a totally hands-free system like a Pandora Link connection, you can simply toss the phone anywhere (a cupholder, the center console storage bin, or your pocket are all good spots).

However, if you're using your phone for navigation and need to be able to use the screen or to interact safely with your phone because you're stuck using an analog connection, you might want to invest in a phone cradle of some sort. Many phone manufacturers (such as Samsung or Motorola) will offer specific car cradles for their high-profile phones, but they're usually overpriced and won't be compatible with next year's hot phone, so look for a quality universal cradle that uses a suction cup or adhesive to hold your phone to the car's windshield or dashboard.

Avoid those "sticky" or "tacky" dashboard pads that simply hold your phone in place flat on the dashboard with little more than friction and gravity. They may be OK for most driving conditions, but you won't want your smartphone becoming an unsecured projectile in the event of a minor accident.

Tablet-specific tips

I've already gone over much of what you'll need to know about using an Android tablet in the car as part of the previous Transform your Nexus 7 into a car tech powerhouse feature. Nearly every tip in that article can be applied to any Android tablet on the market.

Possibly the best place for any tablet in the car is in the back seat, and you'll need either a DIY or universal mount, if you plan on hanging an Android tablet from the headrests as you would with a traditional rear-seat entertainment system. I'm of the opinion that, with the exception of very young children, most users would probably be better served simply holding the tablet in their hands, so you probably shouldn't even bother with the mounting unless you're trying to be fancy.

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Sony may unveil new smartwatch next week

Sony seems to be timing the launch of a new smartwatch for next week.

A series of tweets posted by the company's Xperia account have laid a trail of breadcrumbs pointing to the debut of a new watch at the Mobile Asia Expo 2013 trade show, which runs from June 26 to 28.

The latest tweet posted on Friday offers the most obvious clue, saying "Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock" and displaying a photo of Sony's current smartwatch, which launched in April of 2012.

A prior tweet posted an image of a survey claiming that one-third of smartphone owners want a smartwatch. Another tweet touted that Sony launched the first "smart" watch in 2007. And still another said: "Wearable tech is in our DNA. Remember WALKMAN, now...?"

All of the tweets carry hashtags of #itstime and #MAE13 (which stands for Mobile Asia Expo 2013).

The smartphone arena has gotten more crowded since Sony entered the race last year. The company may be looking to outrival its rivals with an all-new watch springing up a host of new features.

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Google doodle throws wild rumpus for Maurice Sendak

Let the wild rumpus start!

Beloved children's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak gets the Google doodle treatment today on what would have been his 85th birthday.

Sendak has been a childhood touchstone for generations, rising to widespread acclaim with his 1963 book "Where the Wild Things Are" and continuing to produce work until his death in May 2012.

The doodle following a turning-wheel storyline that starts by taking boyish hero Max through the land of the Wild Things and courses through other familiar settings sprung from Sendak's imagination. The flying boy from "In the Night Kitchen" makes an appearance, a work that has the distinction of being one of the most popular books for children that's also one of the most frequently banned from libraries.

A party of Sendak's characters gather around a cake for the the author and illustrator at the conclusion. 

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Apple now has all major labels on board for Apple Radio launch

After more than year of off-and-on negotiations, Apple has now reached deals with all three major music labels, making it increasingly likely that Apple will unveil its free Internet radio service at next week's WWDC event.

The latest deal is with Sony Music, according to industry sources who said the two sides struck a deal Friday morning. Sony had been the lone holdout of the three major music labels, haggling over some details that frustrated execs at the other labels. The world's largest label, Universal Music, was the first to sign on, followed by Warner Music and its publishing arm, Warner/Chappell.

A Sony Music spokesperson declined to comment. Apple also declined to comment.

While Apple has been in talks the music industry for some time, it has amped up its efforts in recent weeks, as it tries to roll out what's been dubbed iRadio -- though possibly called, simply, Apple Radio -- at next week's conference. Over the past couple of weeks, Eddy Cue, Apple's iTunes chief, has spent a lot of time in New York finalizing terms with executives at the labels and publishers.

Apple is entering a crowded field, but its opportunity is vast. Pandora, which rules Internet radio with about 70 million active listeners, is only available in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Apple, by contrast, seeks quickly to roll out the service in up to a dozen places, according to sources, including the U.K, France, Germany, Australia, and Japan.

While the deal with Sony Music is a huge one -- the label is home to such stars as Carrie Underwood and Alicia Keys -- Apple still needs to ink deals with the publishers. So far, the only agreement it has with a major publisher is with Warner/Chappell, a deal it negotiated in tandem with the recorded music side of the company.

The terms that Apple agreed to with Warner/Chappell, however, make it all but certain that the rest of the publishers will sign on soon. Of all the publishers, the most difficult for Apple has been Sony/ATV, which is the world's largest music publisher and is owned by Sony Corp. and the estate of Michael Jackson. The man in charge, Martin Bandier, has been adamant about Apple paying far fatter rates for his songwriters than what they get from what's called theperformance rights organization, which include ASCAP and BMI.

The rates Bandier has been asking for are a 10 percent to 15 percent share of the ad revenue that Apple collects around its Internet radio product, industry sources said. Warner/Chappell's deal has Apple paying 10 percent, according to people familiar with the terms. That's more than twice what Pandora pays and very well should be enough for Bandier to agree to. Eddy Cue was in Bandier's offices earlier this week.

The music labels see big possibilities with Apple Radio. The product, which is tied to iTunes, would be made for mobile devices. It would contain some features not available on Pandora -- such as the ability to rewind a song from the middle of it, sources say -- and would have a simple button that would let users easily purchase a song.

This could be a boon to the labels, which collect roughly 70 percent of every dollar from an iTunes purchases. In addition, the labels get a per-stream rate that's more than what they receive from Pandora. Eventually, if Apple succeeds in building out its ad network and Apple Radio takes off, the labels will get a share of the ad revenue. And if all else fails, there is Apple is paying a guaranteed minimum. Currently, there are about 500 million iTunes accounts.

The streaming music field is becoming super competitive. Google, at its developer's conference last month, launched a Spotify-like subscription music service called Google All Access. Google is also working on a music service tied to YouTube, which has become the dominant place where young people go to hear music.

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Features and fixes I want to see in Mac OS X 10.9

Apple's World Wide Developers Conference starts on Monday, and while the main focus appears to be on updates to iOS (read my iOS 7 wish list here) and various Mac hardware, it's highly likely we'll get an update for Mac OS X 10.9 as well. At this point, we don't know what will be announced and we don't even know which "cat" will be associated with the release. Even the picture above (a giant banner currently displayed at Moscone Center) is suspiciously free of any cats at all, so it's hard to tell where Apple is going with Mac OS X. But one thing we do know is that this year is a little different than past releases of Apple's desktop operating system.

Over the past few years, Apple has followed a fairly regular schedule for OS X releases, with the announcement of a new Mac OS in February, and then the release date announced during theWWDC keynote (with an actual release soon to follow). This year, there was no announcement in the early part of the year, but a report form Daring Fireball said that Apple had pulled developers from the OS X team to work on the big changes in iOS 7, pushing the Mac OS X release to later in the year.

There have been a few stories about what to expect in Mac OS X 10.9, such as features that will benefit power users and the possible addition of Siri and Apple Maps to the OS. So the theme seems to be about better integration across all Apple devices, but there are a few things I think should be included in Apple's next big OS to make it worth the upgrade.

File and document sharing should be first in line, but I think iCloud should be open to collaboration, too. I think we should be able to list a group of users who access a document and create a shared space for working together. Certainly there is software that does this already, but Apple should make it part of the OS and make it easy.Expand the iClouds
iCloud is useful for backing up and syncing already, but what it needs are more granular controls for permissions and sharing. There should be some way in a work setting to share a folder, a document, or group of files that lives in iCloud, and give a co-worker read/write permissions if needed. This would also come in handy with family members, keeping some parts of your cloud space private while making some things accessible. Hopefully, these features would come with a way to easily search what's in the cloud, no matter what device you're using.

I think if Apple makes these and other new features available in iCloud, it would put it in direct competition with Google Drive.

Let me read on my Mac

iBooks has been immensely popular on both iPhones and iPads, and it only seems logical that Apple would bring it to the Mac. While not as portable as iOS, any of the MacBooks could function well as a reading device and there are certainly people who would like iBooks to sync across all their Apple devices.

'Siri, remove duplicate photos'

There have been several rumors that Apple's AI assistant would finally make its way to Macs, and if it's done well, it could be a useful tool on both MacBooks and desktops. Don't forget that Mountain Lion brought dictation tools to Macs, so it would be a natural step to bring Siri over to Mac OS X.

The question is, how much will Siri be able to do? If Siri is limited to asking for sports scores or checking the weather, the addition would only be a novelty ("Look what my Mac can do!"). But if Siri is involved in more-complex automated tasks like organizing photos in iPhoto or helping you create genius playlists with a couple of voice commands, it could be pretty useful.

Apple Maps on Macs

Certainly Apple Maps got off to a difficult start on iOS, but it's seen a lot of improvement over time despite a lot of people jumping to Google Maps when it was released.

So why do I want Apple Maps on the Mac? In a word: convenience. If you had the maps app on your Mac you could do things like find directions to a place on your desktop, then immediately sync to your iPhone for turn-by-turn directions once you're on the road. You also could be browsing your contacts and get immediate directions to a friend's house that would sync across all your devices.

If you believe the rumors, part of the reason Apple would bring Maps to Mac OS X is to give app developers a chance to come up with uses of their own and have it only a click away on the desktop whether they are developing for iOS or Mac.

Fix full-screen apps, please

Mountain Lion brought full-screen apps into the fold so you could focus on the task at hand without a lot of distractions. But the problem I discovered over time was that the feature had some significant flaws. The main problem is, even if you work on multiple screens, you can only have one app running in full-screen mode at a time. This means your second screen becomes useless if you decide to run an app in full-screen mode. Obviously, this needs to be fixed to support users who have more than one screen.

The second issue is much more specific, but annoying nonetheless. While in full-screen mode, if you receive an alert (perhaps you plugged in your iPhone and it demanded an update), suddenly the full-screen app becomes useless, with every click giving you an error beep and no notification anywhere that says there's an alert hidden behind your full-screen app. If you get out of full-screen mode, you'll find it, but that's hardly a good user experience. Hopefully Apple has listened to some of the big complaints about full-screen apps and is making changes for Mac OS X 10.9.

Remove Launchpad or make it the default

In Lion, Apple brought Launchpad to Mac OS X, then later with Mountain Lion, we got Messages, Reminders, GameCenter, and the Notification system. From what I'm hearing, even more iOS features are making the move to Mac OS X 10.9. But I have never loved the addition of the iOS experience of LaunchPad to desktops and laptops. It's certainly not a bad way to find software on your hard drive, but I feel like it should either be the primary method for doing it or it shouldn't be there at all.

It's one thing to bring over features that people already know from iOS. It gives people a sense of familiarity when making the switch to Mac, and there are certainly useful iPhone features that work well on a desktop. But I don't think Apple should shoe-horn features into Mac OS X that are already pretty easy to understand the way they are. In other words, if the feature doesn't make it easier or more efficient, just leave it alone. I think it's unlikely Apple will get rid of Launchpad, but I hope the company fleshes out how it wants people to interact with software and sticks to it.

What about the other Apple apps?

With another Mac OS X update on the way, I'm starting to wonder why both the iLife and iWork suites of software haven't received updates for desktop in so long. iLife's most recent major update was two years ago in 2011, while iWork has received the least attention, going all the way back to 2009 when it last got a face-lift.

These are some of the most useful suites for Macs made by Apple, so I really hope this is the year the company announces upgrades to bring them back into the fold.

Conclusions

Like always, Apple is not telling us what to expect at the big event on Monday morning, but rest assured there will be new features and functionality in Mac OS X that neither you nor I have probably thought about. It seems like Apple's mobile and desktop devices are continuing to move closer together for better or for worse, but it will be interesting to see if the unification of features is something people will embrace or wish Apple would keep as two separate entities.

With the focus on iOS 7, there will probably be a lot bigger news for iOS devices on Monday, but hopefully Apple has also put in the time on its original operating system and keeps the Mac as an integral part of the Apple device ecosystem.

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QuietComfort 20: Hands-on with Bose's first noise-canceling in-ear headphones

Bose has been a go-to choice for noise-canceling headphones since the company's original QuietComfort headphones debuted in 2000. But even as the design has moved from over-the-ear (QC3) to on-ear (QC15), they've remained full-size models -- reasonably travel-friendly, but still somewhat bulky if you're crammed into a coach seat.

But now Bose is shrinking its noise-canceling offering into a much smaller form: the new QuietComfort 20 model. They're the company's first in-ear headphones with active noise cancellation. The QuietComfort 20 headphones will cost $299.95 when they debut later this summer; an iPhone-friendly 20i model will also be available for the same price. Both models include a microphone for making calls on a cell phone. They weigh a mere 1.5 ounces, and come with a zippered cloth carrying case.

As you might expect, the QC20s look like Bose's MIE2 headphones on steroids. The headphones themselves follow the company's TriPort design, carving out some extra space to maximize Bose's proprietary acoustic voodoo, and adding two microphones to monitor external noise. As with all such active noise-canceling 'phones, that external din -- the drone of a jet engine, the crowd at the train station -- is countered by a mirror soundwave, allowing you to enjoy your music in relative peace. The processing chip used in the QC20 is a new model that's exclusive to Bose. 

The QuietComfort 20s come with three sizes of flexible "StayHear+" eartips, each of which has wings to brace itself against the cup of the outer ear. (Again, they look similar to the ones found on the MIE2s.)

The lithium ion battery pack is embedded in a control pod on the cord. It's rechargeable via a standard Micro-USB cable, and Bose pledges 16-hour battery life. (Unlike some competing models, the QC20s will continue to produce sound -- sans noise cancellation, of course -- if the battery dies completely.)

At the joint of the Y-cable leading to the left and right earbuds is a smaller second remote for controlling volume. That one also has a switch for toggling what Bose calls "Aware mode." Once engaged, it significantly ramps down the noise cancellation, so you can hear the outside world -- to chat with a flight attendant, for instance. But unlike the pass-through mode found in some competing models, it doesn't disengage the audio source completely -- you can still hear your music. In other words, the noise cancellation isn't completely disengaged, just ratcheted back.

Going ears-on: First impressions

I had two chances to listen to the QC20s first-hand at a Bose event in New York's Grand Central Terminal. While both demos were in a controlled environment, the results were undeniably impressive. The competing sound effects (train station and airport noise piped in for the demo) were all but inaudible, even as I was able to listen to comparatively soft jazzy vocals unimpaired. To drive the effect home, I could "feel" the bass from the simulated train vibrating my bones, but I was only barely "hearing" it. (To be clear, the presentation skills of the Bose staff are among the best in the business; everything has an aura of polish and synchronicity that is rivaled only by Apple's, in my opinion.)

If the headphones have a killer app, though, it's the Aware mode feature. I was able to have a conversation with someone with it engaged, while still hearing the music in the background. (Yes, I did have to crank down the volume a bit.) When toggling it back and forth, it seemed far less jarring than the pass-through modes I've experienced on rival products. It's unclear if Aware mode uses the NC or headset microphones to pull in the outside conversation, but it works like a charm.

Another unexpected bonus: normally, I avoid active-noise-cancellation headphones because the pressure they exert often strains my overly sensitive eardrums. For whatever reason, the QC20s -- at least during my 5-minute listening session -- seemed far more comfortable, with the pressure effect barely noticeable. I'd be very interested to see if that, and the overall comfort of the eartips, persisted over the long term.

Competition and final thoughts

As usual, we'll reserve final judgment until we have a chance to live with the headphones for a while. Specifically, we'll be looking for long-term comfort, performance of the noise cancellation in real-world environments, and overall audio quality. I'll also be interested to see how it feels to travel with the split battery pack and inline remote. The fact that the weightier battery pack is at the base of the cord seems like a smarter idea (so it's not tugging at your ears), but it'll be interesting to see how that works in practice.

Of course, the bigger question with the QC20s may be philosophical: do in-ear headphones even need to have active noise cancellation? An in-ear model with a good fit should already offer good to excellent noise isolation -- blocking out external noise by virtue of its tight seal. To that end, it'll be interesting to compare the QC20s with some in-ear models that don't offer active noise-canceling, too.

In terms of competition, the QuietComfort 20s will be going head-to-head with a fairly small roster of noise-canceling in-ear models. The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC23BK QuietPoint andATH-ANC33iS QuietPoint models retail for as little as $80, while Sony's XBA-NC85D retail for a whopping $500 -- and were downright disappointing, to boot.

Bose offers a no-questions-asked 30-day return policy, and its numerous stores will no doubt offer in-house demos. But the QC20s are backed by only a limited one-year warranty. That feels a bit stingy on such a pricey product, especially for in-ear models, which are simply more prone to wear and tear than full-size headphones.

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